Brief Speech by the Vice President of the GJA /October 17. 2026
Rebecca Ekpe, representing the President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour
Closing Ceremony of UK- MEET at the Residence of the British High Commissioner, Christian Rogg Cantonments, Accra
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Theme: The Impact of Media Development, Professionalism and International Collaboration
Your Excellency, the British High Commissioner, Minister of Environmental Science and Technology, Dr. Zanetor Agyemang Rawlings (MP), The Vice Chancellor-UniMAC- Rep of Imperial College, distinguished guests, representatives of the media, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen.
Good evening.
It is an honour to represent the President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Mr Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, at this closing ceremony. On his behalf, I extend warm greetings and sincere appreciation to the British High Commission and all partners who have contributed to the success of this programme.
As we bring this programme to a close, I wish to highlight three important areas of impact and why initiatives of this nature matter to the journalism profession.
First, strengthening professional capacity and journalistic excellence.
Programmes like this provide valuable opportunities for journalists to deepen their knowledge, sharpen their skills and respond to the changing demands of the media landscape. At a time when misinformation, disinformation, artificial intelligence and digital threats are reshaping journalism, continuous learning is essential. We must equip journalists to report accurately, fairly, ethically and responsibly in the public interest.
Second, building partnerships and international cooperation.
The collaboration between Ghanaian media stakeholders and international partners, including the United Kingdom, demonstrates the importance of exchanging knowledge, sharing experiences and building institutions that support independent and professional journalism. Such partnerships must translate into practical opportunities for training, innovation, journalist safety and the sustainability of media organisations.
Third, strengthening public trust and democratic accountability.
A strong, independent and responsible media is indispensable to democracy. Journalists help citizens make informed decisions, hold institutions accountable and amplify voices that might otherwise go unheard. The real impact of this programme will therefore be measured not only by what participants have learned, but by how they apply that knowledge in their newsrooms and communities to improve the quality of public discourse.
Ladies and gentlemen,
As the Ghana Journalists Association, we remain committed to promoting professionalism, press freedom, media development and the welfare and safety of journalists. We believe that investing in journalists is ultimately an investment in our democracy and national development.
I encourage all participants to take the lessons and relationships developed through this programme beyond this gathering and turn them into meaningful action.
On behalf of the President of the GJA, I express our gratitude to the British High Commissioner and all programme partners for their commitment to strengthening the media profession.
May this closing ceremony mark not the end of our engagement, but the beginning of deeper collaboration and lasting impact.
Congratulations to the winners!
Thank you, and God bless Ghana and the United Kingdom.
